$(document).ready(function()
{
  slide("#sliding-navigation", 25, 15, 150, .8);
});

function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier)
{
  // creates the target paths
  var list_elements = navigation_id + " li.sliding-element";
  var link_elements = list_elements + " a";
  
  // initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
  var timer = 0;
  
  // creates the slide animation for all list elements 
  $(list_elements).each(function(i)
  {
    // margin left = - ([width of element] + [total vertical padding of element])
    $(this).css("margin-left","-180px");
    // updates timer
    timer = (timer*multiplier + time);
    $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
    $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "15px" }, timer);
    $(this).animate({ marginLeft: "0" }, timer);
  });

  // creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements     
  $(link_elements).each(function(i)
  {
    $(this).hover(
    function()
    {
      $(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_out }, 150);
    },    
    function()
    {
      $(this).animate({ paddingLeft: pad_in }, 150);
    });
  });
}
